Poacher International Scout & Guide Camp Ride-Out July 2008

This was the day when 16 bikes and 23 members of the Sherwood Chapter rode out to meet about 8,000 youngsters attending the Poacher 2008 Lincolnshire Scout and Guide International Camp.  One of our members, Janet, has one foot in each camp (no pun intended – not!) so to speak, and it was her idea that a group of Harley bikers might turn up, unannounced at the camp, to give the youngsters a noisy surprise.

Our Lincoln leader, Jeff, took us up Tritton Road (past the new Harley dealership) and onto Silver Street.  We always seem to go that way!  Wonder if it is because there are a lot of big shop windows that reflect shiny things (chrome) very well?  It was then up Lindum Hill and round by the cathedral, before hitting the A15 and a quick burst to the Lincolnshire Showground where the camp was being held.

With quotes like ‘It’s only 5 mph on camp’ and ‘Please don’t hit (run over)any of the kids’ ringing in our ears, we rode into town, sorry, camp.  At the sound of rolling thunder (well, as best as 16 Harleys can make), kids came running from all directions.  As a teacher of 30+ years I was having wicked thoughts – ‘Hit them, with this many I can’t miss.  Revenge will be sweet!’  Then I came out of my dream!  I have to admit, however, that I did manage to hit a lot of them, but only with ‘high fives’!  It was at this point that I began thinking that Janet must have got lost (I am making no suggestions about map readers here) because by my count we must have gone round the camp at least twice!  Then at last we pulled in and parked up.  Someone must have had a sat nav with them because amongst all of these tents and kids, we still managed to find a bar selling alcoholic drinks (and funny coloured drinking vessels).  Cheers everybody!

As the sun faded over the horizon, we made our way out of the camp, again accompanied by many ‘high fives’.  I expect Janet’s emotions were mixed – well pleased with the response of both the kids and the riders, but also relief at having fulfilled the operation with no mishaps.  Speaking for the ‘Fells’, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.  What shall we do next?  Anyone got any good ideas?

Please note that the photographs accompanying this article are thanks to Peter B.